U.S. INDICTS ITHACA WAR PROTESTERS

U.S. INDICTS ITHACA WAR PROTESTERS

Four peace demonstrators who poured their blood on government property during a 2003 antiwar rally at a military recruiting office in Lansing have been indicted in federal court.

Peter De Mott and Clare Grady received subpoenas early Friday. Teresa B. Grady and Daniel Burns were in contact with federal officials and were waiting for their subpoenas to be delivered during the afternoon. The indictments, for "conspiracy to impede an officer of the United States," come nearly a year after a local case ended in a mistrial in Tompkins County Court.

The federal "officer" allegedly impeded was not identified on subpoena papers.

"A jury in Tompkins County was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Nine people would have acquitted us," De Mott said. "We're confident that the jury in Binghamton will reach a similar conclusion."

According to the subpoena delivered to De Mott, the indictment was signed by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas J. McAvoy on Thursday. The defendants are scheduled to appear before U.S. District Court Judge David E. Peebles on March 11.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Binghamton did not return calls seeking comment Friday afternoon. Tompkins County District Attorney George Dentes, whose office could not get a conviction in Tompkins County Court in April 2004, and a Syracuse-based media spokespeople for the U.S. military also did not return repeated calls for comment.

De Mott said he understands that he and the others could face up to six years in prison and "hefty fines" if convicted.

"We're facing more serious jail time than some of the soldiers who committed atrocities against prisoners in Iraq," Burns said.

On March 17, 2003, shortly before the United States began combat operations in Iraq, the Gradys, Burns and De Mott were among a group of about 20 people who gathered to demonstrate in front of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps recruiting station at the Cayuga Mall in Lansing.

The four who entered the office were arrested, but never convicted. The defendants -- who call themselves the St. Patrick's Day 4 --never denied they drew their own blood to poor at the recruiting station during the protest.

The four have repeatedly insisted, however, they are not guilty of a crime and said Friday they plan to plead innocent in this latest court action.

"We believe that we are upholding international law in that the U.S. has acted criminally in invading Iraq, a sovereign nation, without the backing of the United Nations," Teresa B. Grady said.

She said the United States also was guilty of crimes against humanity, environmental degradation and causing the deaths of U.S. service personnel.

Following last April's mistrial, Dentes dismissed all charges pending against the four in Tompkins County Court. Dentes, who said then that he believed the jury "focused on political ideology instead of the facts," asked the U.S. Attorney's office to get involved in the case.

As in their first trial, the four said they likely will represent themselves in court, with help from legal advisors.

Contact: rdupuis@ithaca.gannett.com
ROGER DUPUIS II Journal Staff

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